Seattle Shopping for the Holidays: Snow Leopard Trust

A few weeks ago I was attending a meeting at the Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford. In one of the room’s windows, a display of handmade rugs, hats, gloves and little stuffed animals caught my eye. They had a third-world handcraft look to them and I had to find out what these were all about.

I discovered that this little shop at the entrance of the center is part of the Snow Leopard Trust. Founded in 1981, this conservation organization partners with communities located in snow leopard habitats including Mongolia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan. Residents in these regions often live on less than $1 a day and protecting the environment is not a priority for them.

That’s where the Snow Leopard Trust comes in. The organization helps these people raise their standard of living. By utilizing their resources, namely the wool from sheep, goats and camels and developing handicrafts that can be sold to Westerners, they are able to earn money to feed their families. In exchange for help from the Trust, the locals then agree to help protect the snow leopards, not allowing the hunting or killing of the animals, which are listed as an endangered species.

Baby Booties ($12)

Eyeglass cases ($10)

You can help support this organization, communities of poor people in these regions and ultimately help save the dwindling numbers of snow leopards by purchasing your holiday gift items from their shop, either online or at the Good Shepherd Center.